Fury to face Johnson

WBO intercontinental heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will face American Kevin Johnson in next month's WBC heavyweight title fight in Belfast.

Lancashire-born Fury was set to fight Denis Boytsov on December 1, but the Russian withdrew in October. Johnson, from New Jersey, has won 28 of his 31 fights and drew attention to himself with an epic WBC heavyweight title bout against Vitali Klitschko in 2009.

Quoted on BBC Sport, Fury said: "Johnson is the kind of opponent that I want - we needed a world-class fighter and we've got one. When I take him apart the world will sit up and take notice."

Fury added: "I am getting closer to a shot at Klitschko myself and I'm going to show Vitali why he has to fight me because when I do a number on Johnson and get him out of there I'll have done a better job than Vitali did on him."

Fury is targeting a shot at reigning world heavyweight champion Klitschko after claiming the vacant WBO intercontinental heavyweight title against Vinny Maddalone in July.

Johnson, who turned professional in 2002, added: "It's going to be the best American fighter against the best fighter in the UK.

"Tyson is a helluva fighter but he's never seen anything like the "Kingpin" up close and personal.

"I'm not Derek Chisora or Neven Pajkic - I'm the real deal and Tyson will find that out on 1 December."